Become familiar with the candidates stepping forward to lead NASN. All candidates have completed the nominating committee process. In the upcoming election, NASN members will select a vice president and a nominating committee member. The election will be conducted online from March 15, 2022, to April 15, 2022.

School nurses are invited to take this survey, which is designed to learn more about school nurses' moral distress and information needs about the COVID-19 virus and vaccine, especially relating to school case management and parent questions and concerns about the vaccine. It should take you 15-20 minutes to complete. If you have questions about the survey, please contact Christina Baker at 720-220-8571 or email: [email protected].

Martha Dewey Bergren, editor of the Journal of School Nursing, interviews author Rachel McClanahan in the December podcast to discuss their article, "Use of Licensed Vocational Nurses in California Schools: A Descriptive Study." Weekly Digest readers have complimentary access to the article for 60 days.

Holiday traditions are important. CDC has updated guidance to enjoy holiday traditions. School nurses can send information to caregivers to minimize COVID-19 risk.

Made to Save and the de Beaumont Foundation tested messaging with parents of children ages 5-11, and found that messages about health and community were most effective at increasing support for COVID-19 vaccination of this age group. Download the full tip sheet.

Getting access to the vaccine is a struggle for many. Lyft is mobilizing partners and community members to help provide access to millions of riders to and from vaccine appointments. Learn more and see if Lyft is available in your community.

CDC has released a new infographic that illustrates the steps for determining close contacts within the K–12 school setting. The infographic also contains information on public health recommendations for close contacts, including whether they need to quarantine based on specific conditions. The Steps for Determining Close Contact and Quarantine in K–12 Schools infographic replaces the two decision trees previously included in the Toolkit for Responding to COVID-19 Cases.

Personal hygiene begins and ends with our hands. And though we’re taught as youngsters to wash our hands before dinner, it’s important to remember that germs don’t care what time of day it is. Clean hands prevent sickness. National Handwashing Awareness Week takes place each year during the first week of December. Check out activities and resources you can use in your school.

Nurses are urged to recognize that dissemination of misinformation not only jeopardizes the health and well-being of the public but may place their license and career in jeopardy as well. The brief states, “It is an expectation of the U.S. boards of nursing, the profession, and the public that nurses uphold the truth, the principles of the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses and highest scientific standards when disseminating information about COVID-19 or any other health-related condition or situation.” Read the entire brief here.

National Influenza Vaccination Week is December 5-11. During recent flu seasons, 9 out of 10 people hospitalized with flu had at least one underlying health condition – that’s why getting an annual flu vaccine is especially important for people with certain chronic health conditions. Use these resources to bring awareness to your school community.

Healthy kids set the stage for strong communities, and students who don’t feel well can’t reach their full potential. That is why school-based health is a strategic focus area for the Moses Taylor Foundation, and they are committed to supporting school nurses who are at the intersection of health and education.

School nurses are highly trained medical professionals, yet most people don’t fully understand their role. Watch the video — "A Day in the Life of a School Nurse" — and share with administrators, educators, parents, and others to help illustrate the varied, robust, and important nature of our jobs.

Join the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners for the Town Hall featuring Kimbal Ford, PharmD, US Vaccines Medical Affairs Director for Pfizer. He will share information about Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine EUA for children and respond to questions.

This event is free but pre-registration is required.

The National Center for Children’s Vision & Eye Health at Prevent Blindness invites you to join an “Ask the Author” webinar. This presentation will describe program implementation, as well as research findings about the prevalence of uncorrected vision disorders and the impact school-based eye care has had on student academic performance.

Join the Made to Save health team and chat more about the COVID-19 vaccines and pandemic with Dr. Alice Chen.

This is a great opportunity to ask any questions you have about the vaccines and the pandemic.

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